Travel, Exploration, Amusement, Education, Christianity, Ethnography,
Race, Human Species
Relates that, under
John WesleyWesley, John
(1703–91)
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magazine contained a considerable portion of 'Extracts from Books of Voyages
and Travels'. Reflects: 'after his example, we have given greater prominence,
than in some former volumes, to the same species of literature'. Observes that
the selections have been made from recent publications, with the objectives of
instruction and entertainment. Defends the inclusion of such material in a
'professedly religious miscellany' on the grounds that it gives a 'varied
exhibition of the human character' and that 'these displays of savage or half
civilized life' are connected with 'Missionary efforts'. (iii) Considers that
British travel narratives are more accurate now than those in fashion at the
end of the eighteenth century, since 'religious principles are at present more
generally diffused among all classes of the community; and men of education are
consequently less under the temptation to represent human savages as "innocent
and unsophisticated beings", "perfect models of the men who lived under the
golden age", as described by the ancient poets'. Relates that such views were
formerly expressed by French savans and by infidels of other nations.
Considers that accounts of the 'frivolous' or 'disgusting' conduct and morals
of 'heathen tribes' is useful for Christian missions. Welcomes the fact that
recent British travellers, 'whether naval, military, or scientific, often
conclude their interesting narratives, by recommending the savage tribes whom
they have happened to visit, to the favourable attention of those religious and
charitable Institutions which have for their object the conversion of the
world'. (iv)
Harris 1824Harris, Thaddeus
Mason 1824. The Natural History of the Bible; or, A Description
of All the Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, and Insects, Trees, Plants,
Flowers, Gums, and Precious Stones, Mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures:
Collected from the Best Authorities, and Alphabetically Arranged, London:
T. Tegg
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Moore
1824–25Moore, Henry
1824–25. The Life of the Rev. John Wesley, A.M, Fellow of Lincoln
College, Oxford; in Which are Included, the Life of His Brother, the Rev.
Charles Wesley, A.M., Student of Christ Church, and Memoirs of their Family;
Comprehending an Account of the Great Revival of Religion, in Which They Were
the First and Chief Instruments, 2 vols, London: J. Kershaw
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Considers
Robert
Southey'sSouthey, Robert
(1774–1843)
ODNB CloseView the register entry >> attempt to write the life of
John WesleyWesley, John
(1703–91)
ODNB CloseView the register entry >> without
'even the elements of theological science', to be as absurd as 'an attempt to
write the philosophic life, and to estimate the discoveries of
SIR
ISAAC NEWTONNewton, Sir Isaac
(1642–1727)
DSB CloseView the register entry >>, by a person wholly
ignorant of the Mathematics; or to propose a digest of the discoveries of
modern Chemistry, by one who never made an experiment, and could attach no
definite idea to the very elementary terms of chemical science'. Noting that a
new biography was required, observes of Southey that 'one attempt of the blind
to investigate the philosophy of colours, was amply sufficient'. (27)
The extracted review of recent works on Byron begins by observing that he
was beginning to be thankfully forgotten, 'when it lucklessly occurred to some
of his associates to revive his memory; and they have done it, as effectually
as a surgeon or executioner would do it, by digging up the body and gibbeting
the skeleton'.
Section: Missionary Notices, Relating Principally to the Foreign Missions
Carried on Under the Direction of the Methodist Conference
The first two stanzas reflect that it is good to gaze on the heavens and
over 'this terrestrial ball', but that it is 'better far to say, / "My
Father made them all!"'. Contemplates the divine control of the created
order, and concludes that natural grandeur and beauty cannot 'awe so long, nor
charm so well, / As He, that made them all!'.
Providence, Miracles, Anthropocentrism, Microbiology, Astronomy,
Theology of Nature, Piety
The writer observes that the 'most striking instances of the care of a
particular Providence are furnished in the history of individuals'. Continues:
'That the world is not abandoned to the sport of a blind chance, or governed by
a mere mechanical agency, but by the immediate and constant interposition of
the Divine Being, and that his peculiar attentions are devoted to his own
people, are truths supported by powerful evidence'. Denies any objection to
this based on 'our comparative insignificancy', for the omnipresent God 'can
with the same ease superintend "the excursions of an Archangel and the
flutterings of a bee"; wheel the planets on their orbits, and direct the
smallest corpuscle of blood that flits through the minutest vein of the most
insignificant animalcule'. (75)
Relates of her last illness: 'In her numerous conversations with her medical
attendant, her observations and inquiries respecting many phenomena of health
and disease, especially those relevant to her own particular case, were marked
by great strength of mind, and original and bold conception; and she often took
occasion to observe, that one class of the joys of the future state would be,
the joy of knowledge; so that those apparent obscurities and mysteries which
baffled the wisest would then be easily and delightfully explained' (83).
Begins with observations relating to the grammatical writings of
John WallisWallis, John
(1616–1703)
DSB CloseView the register entry >> and on
the richness of the English language. Observes of Wallis: 'He excelled in
Etymology, for his habits as a Geometer led him to sift every subject to
its bottom, and trace every branch or even filament of language to its
radix' (92). Considers it a shame that 'with a language, and such
treasures in it, the best part of the lives of so many of our youth
should be spent, if not wasted, in studies, and in languages,
that in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, serve only to pass through the
forms of Schools and Colleges, and however they may have
acquitted themselves in Greek and Latin, Mathematics, and a still inefficient
Aristotelian Philosophy, enter upon life with scarcely a requisite for
passing honourably and usefully through it' (94).
Begins: 'The Colombians who inhabit the hot lands, are meagre; their
complexion is very yellow; in general they are of small stature, and seldom
well-made. The state of debility in which they languish, arises from the decay
of the white races under the tropics, in proportion as the black blood, which
is generally mixed with that of the Europeans, is impaired and disappears'
(100).
Christian Retrospect of General Occurrences, Interesting to those who
Fear God, on Account of their Influence on Religion, or on Public Morals and
Happiness. No. XXIII.—Recognition of the Independence of Mexico, Buenos
Ayres, &c.—Wesleyan Missions in the West Indies
Welcomes on religious grounds the recognition of Mexico, Buenos Ayres, and
Colombia as independent states by the British government. Considers that, while
the 'constitutions of the new American Republics are unfriendly to toleration,
in the sense in which we understand and enjoy it [...] they are, at least,
separated from that systematic plot which has been formed among the Catholic
powers of Europe, for resisting the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and
putting down the education of the poor, and all other institutions which have
any tendency to raise the minds of men above the dominion of superstition'.
Observes that while the governments may not be very liberal with regard to
religion, they are with regard to literature: 'To become acquainted with
European science, arts, and literature in general, is felt to be essential to
their strength and internal improvement; as well as demanded by the
national character which they have now assumed'. Notes the encouragement
of education, and observes that it will 'tend to break the fetters which have
restrained the mind, and kept it subject to puerile superstitions' and be a
harbinger of a 'brighter illumination'. (114)
Includes a description of the inaugural meeting of a Colombo auxilliary to
the
Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary
SocietyWesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society
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address as chairman. Quoting an account of the success of missionary work in
the Jaffna district, Ottley rhetorically enquires whether the results can be
attributed to 'delusion', continuing: 'Few subjects are more worthy the
attention of rational and accountable beings, and none more deserves to engage
the minds of philosophical inquirers, than the progress of the human soul in
receiving the saving influences of Christianity' (133).
Lyon 1825Lyon, George
Francis 1825. A Brief Narrative of an Unsuccessful Attempt to
Reach Repulse Bay: Through Sir Thomas Rowe's "Welcome," in His Majesty's Ship
Griper, in the Year MDCCCXXIV, London: John Murray
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Subjects:
Exploration, Hydrography, Heroism, Ethnography, Language, Natural
History